Dave Mertz (M.Arch., B.Arch.) is the Director of the Building Preservation Technology Program at Belmont Technical College in St. Clairsville, OH, a post he has held since the program’s inception in 1989. He serves as Vice-Chair of Preservation for Heritage Ohio and as an architectural consultant to the St. Clairsville Architectural Board of Review. He recently completed terms as a board member of the National Trust’s Preservation Leadership Institute and is on the editorial board of Preservation Forum Journal. He is a member of the National Council for Preservation Education and served over a decade on the organization’s executive committee including four years as Chairman. A graduate of Kansas State University, Mr. Mertz lectures frequently on technical aspects of historic preservation, community revitalization and the role of the traditional building trades.
	Jeff Forster – Jeff has been working in metal since 1975. He trained in landscape architecture at Alfred University where he found the study of organic forms easily translated into his more contemporary original work in metals. Artistic Metals, his Wheeling based business was started in 1984. Over the past twenty plus years, Jeff has been involved in the restoration and recreation of many diverse period projects including vintage antique railings, balconies, fences, gates and pressed metal ceilings and has constructed the heaviest forged gate in the state of West Virginia. While he focuses mainly on the tri-state region including Pittsburgh , he occasionally does work across the United States . Jeff teaches the Material Science – Metals class at Belmont .
	Jon Smith – Jon is a superintendent with Allegheny Restoration and Builders, Inc. and has over 35 years experience in historic preservation and restoration carpentry. Jon currently teaches the Field Lab courses and has actively recruited students for on-going Allegheny projects located near the college. Dennis Wees – Dennis holds an Associate degree in Building Preservation Technology from Belmont Technical College and has been practicing the art of stained glass for over 20 years. His work can be viewed throughout Belmont County . Dennis joined the staff as an adjunct instructor in 1999 and teaches the basic stained glass course and a course in stained glass restoration.